Here is a statistic that should keep you up at night.
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country in the world. Higher than Canada. Higher than Germany. Higher than France. Higher than the United Kingdom.
And the rate is rising.
According to the CDC, approximately 700 to 900 women die each year in the U.S. from pregnancy-related causes. That doesn’t include the more than 60,000 women who nearly die—suffering life-threatening complications that require emergency intervention.
Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Indigenous women face similarly elevated risks. And young mothers—like Aaliyah, just 19—are particularly vulnerable because their bodies may not be fully developed for the demands of pregnancy, especially with multiples.
For every woman who dies, there is a story. Aaliyah’s story. And too many others.
